Ms Yvonne O'Neill:

I would not want to leave an impression that the safeguarding of adults is not a key priority for the HSE. The safeguarding protective teams in the CHOs respond very proactively to the cases that are made known to us within the legislation and regulation available to us.

On the antigen testing specifically, the guidance on the use of antigen testing is provided to us by NPHET and the antimicrobial resistance and infection control, AMRIC, division. Currently, there is no proposal for the use of antigen testing in nursing homes. A paper is being developed, as far as I am aware, for the purposes of NPHET to advise on the use

of antigen testing, including its pilot use in schools. We will await the outcome of that pilot-----